Phoenix Museum of History closing June 30

The museum that holds prized artifacts from Phoenix's early days will close on June 30 because it doesn't have enough money to operate.

The Phoenix Museum of History would like to merge with another organization so that the museum can reopen later, officials say. It's unclear, however, if or when that would happen.

"We are hoping to come back stronger, but right now, the money is not there," said Frank Barrios president of the museum's board of trustees.

Four or five museum workers will lose their jobs, Barrios said.

Phoenix has agreed to pay for electricity and other utilities so that the museum's collections aren't impacted, Barrios said.

The museum has about 20,000 visitors each year said Vicki Berger, the museum's interim executive director.

The institution at 105 N. Fifth Street has many items from Phoenix's early years, including a rifle once owned by Phoenix founder Jack Swilling and artifacts from the Hohokam, people who lived in the Valley between A.D. 1 and 1450.

For years, the Phoenix Museum of History has operated on a lean budget, but city cutbacks and the recession made its financial challenges worse.

This year, Phoenix City Council faced a historic budget shortfall. The city's budget cuts included $50,000 in annual funding that went to the museum. The museum's annual operating budget is about $300,000 Barrios said.

In addition to the city budget cut, the museum was getting less money from grants and other income. To help the museum to survive, the board voted to explore a merger with the nearby Arizona Science Center, Barrios said.

"Arizona Science Center and Phoenix Museum of History have entered into early negotiations to explore joint opportunities to enhance our mutual offerings and the overarching mission that we both share," said Chevy Humphrey the science center's President and CEO.

"We are just beginning the dialogue process and have no specific details of future plans at this time, but are excited to explore the tremendous potential and long-term benefits this opportunity presents for us to better serve our Arizona communities," she said.

The Phoenix Museum of History has existed in some form since the 1920s, Barrios said.

In 1996 it moved into its current 20,000-square foot location in Heritage & Science Park.